Cyclists ignoring no-cycling signs on paths reserved for walkers

Much to the annoyance of hikers and walkers, an increased number of cyclists, including e-bikers, have been reported using paths where cycling is forbidden.

It is later this autumn that the Federal Council is expected to set out basic regulations for cycle path networks across the country, not only cyclists having been able to express what they want, but walkers also, their having been able to say what they want, or more precisely, what they do not want, namely cyclists using paths reserved for hikers.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Zug Footpath Association (VZWW), Arthur Meier said he had noticed increased use of paths by cyclists, including e-cyclists, causing problems in particular where the paths were so narrow it was not easy to pass.

“Where paths are wider than two metres, it is not so much a problem; but where they are narrower, it is. What is worse is that these cyclists are often out in groups,” he said, annoyed, too, that they seem oblivious to the signs which clearly state that cycling is forbidden.

As to precise examples, he mentioned the path by the River Reuss in Hünenberg, the one alongside the lake by the Choller bays in addition to others on the Zugerberg and the one connecting Hünenberg with Risch.

As a result of this Alfred Knüsel, the vice- chairman of the VZWW, said he had been in contact with the councils of the municipalities affected, though little had been done, despite their saying they carried out occasional checks. He also mentioned how wildlife was also affected by cycling on such paths and damage to the surfaces had been caused through braking hard. “Something needs to be done with urgency, though it is not up to us to do it,” he insisted.

Meier pointed out what had happened in Lenzburg in the neighbouring canton of Argovia, where walkers have been having similar problems. Despite placards being put up on narrow woodland paths reminding cyclists of the prohibition, they still continued to use them. Hence police patrols were introduced, and offenders fined, something he thought would be a good idea in Zug, too. For their part, the Zug police they had had no incidents of this reported to them and that they had no intention of following in the footsteps of their Argovian colleagues.

“Ideally, separate paths for cyclists and walkers ought to be used,” said Knüsel. “Until such time, what is needed on the part of all those who use such paths is to show greater consideration to each other.”